Balance Exercise Apps Can Reduce Fall-related Injuries

More than 1 in 4 adults age 65 and older falls each year. Falls can lead to serious injuries, hospital stays, and loss of independence. They can also affect long-term health. Treating falls and related health issues often requires more intensive and costly care.

Doctors have long known that exercise can help improve balance and strength. The challenge is that many older adults may not participate because of barriers such as transportation, scheduling, cost, mobility issues, or limited access to structured programs.

Making fall prevention more accessible

Dr. Gozansky and her team at the Kaiser Permanente Colorado Institute for Health Research wanted to see if there was a simple way to help older adults who face those barriers reduce their risk of falls.

Researchers looked at how a balance-training app impacted the rates of fall-related injuries for Kaiser Permanente members in Colorado age 60 and older. The research was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Researchers reviewed health records for more than 3,700 app users and more than 114,000 people who did not use the app between 2018 and 2024.

The team found that older adults who had previously been injured in a fall and signed up for the app had fewer serious fall-related injuries over the next year. People who weren’t regularly participating in an exercise class or program saw the biggest improvement in risk. People who were already exercising regularly did not see an added benefit. This was not surprising, according to Dr. Gozansky.

“This research is really about removing barriers," said Dr. Gozansky. She is also a senior clinician investigator at the Institute for Health Research and vice president and chief quality officer for the Colorado Permanente Medical Group. "When we make it easier for people to engage in activities that support balance and strength, we can help them stay healthy, remain independent, and avoid injuries.”

Supporting healthy aging

The findings align with Kaiser Permanente's broader focus on prevention. When people can stay healthy and avoid injuries, treatment becomes easier and less expensive. Fall-related injuries lead to many emergency department visits and hospital stays among older adults. That makes prevention important to help people stay healthier and independent longer.

The bottom line for people who are aging: It’s important to get moving. Whether it’s joining a formal class or downloading an app, finding some way to stay active can make a big difference.